Chapter 9
[Nia Savannah, 21 years old]
Father: diplomat.
Mother: ballerina.
French citizen, adopted from Korea.
A trainee at the New York Ballet Theater, arrived in the U.S. less than a month ago.
Sweet, innocent young woman.
Her hobbies, talents, tastes, even her personality were all listed in detail in the file.
Sa-hee studied the documents carefully. One week before the mission started, she moved into the small studio apartment Chairman Park had prepared.
From today on, she had to live as Nia Savannah, memorizing her new routine and lifestyle.
The Chelsea apartment, about 20 pyeong (small but stylish), looked exactly like a young French ballerinaās roomāfilled with elegant clothes and pretty shoes.
She wasnāt allowed to bring her own belongings, so she came with nothing but herself. After tidying up a little, she prepared to go out.
Today she wore bright makeup, a lovely dress, and a chic leather jacket on top. She slipped into low-heeled shoes, put her new ID and cards into her handbag, and stepped outside.
Her first task: the biggest obstacle of all.
In just one week, sheād have to seduce a stranger and spend the night with him.
That was the hardest part for her.
Was she afraid of sex?
Absolutely not.
She had grown up until age five in a mercenary camp, surrounded only by men. Naked bodies were nothing new. Until fifteen, sheād witnessed Bum-gyu and Bellaās open displays of affection.
Working as a fixer, she had seen every kind of scene imaginableānudity, affairs, messy entanglements.
She had simply never wanted to do it herself. She had never met a man who made her curious enough.
So, her first time would be with a stranger. She decided she could accept that. In her world, it was nothing special.
The real problem: she didnāt know how to flirt.
How do men and women meet? How do they date? How do you lure someone in?
She had no idea.
So she decided to observe. To see how people her age met and interacted.
She couldnāt act like a clueless child when trying to seduce her target.
Thatās why she went to a sports pub near Columbia University.
All she knew about the man was: he was the heir of Myeongseong Group, and he graduated from Columbia.
So, she thought watching men from that same background might help.
She had expectations too. Maybe they would be different from the rough men she was used to. More refined, more educated.
But the moment she walked in, her hopes shattered.
It was the second Friday of October, and the place was wild.
Deafening rock music shook the walls, people laughed and shouted, glasses clinked, and couples clung to each other, kissing openly.
Sa-hee sighed. So Bella was right. Men, no matter rich or poor, old or young, politician or workerātheyāre all animals ruled by hormones.
Animals? Noāwild animals.
She forced her stiff shoulders to relax and walked to the bar, fists clenched to hide her nerves.
Just then, the bartender set a martini with an olive in front of her.
āI didnāt order this,ā she said, narrowing her eyes.
The bartender tilted his chin toward the pool table.
āThat guy over there sent it.ā
She looked.
A tall white man held a cue stick, smirking at her. His build was strong, his smile arrogantāstraight out of an American high school drama, the stereotypical quarterback.
He stared at her with hungry eyes, full of confidence.
The bartender explained quietly:
āHeās the son of the vice president of M Department Store. Doing his masterās at Columbia. Bit of a playboy, but generous to his women. Even for one night, heāll spend plenty. Take what you can.ā
āNo thanks,ā Sa-hee said curtly, pushing the glass away. She walked toward the restroom.
Behind her, the bartender crossed his arms in an X to signal rejection to the blonde man. Loud laughter followed her.
āDisgusting,ā she muttered.
Inside the restroom, she rinsed her mouth and splashed cold water on her face. The stares of men earlier had made her skin crawl.
When she finally lifted her head, she froze.
āā¦?ā
In the mirror, she saw himāthe blondeāstanding right behind her.
The stench of alcohol hit her.
āThis is the womenās restroom,ā she snapped.
āI know,ā he replied smoothly, eyes sliding down her body.
āThen get out.ā
But instead, he stepped closer. His body pressed against her backside.
She felt something hard against her, and a shiver of disgust ran down her spine.
āWhat the hell are youāā
āRelax.ā
He grabbed her, grinding against her with a sleazy grin.
āSee? Not bad, right? Letās go somewhere. Iāll treat you well.ā
Her skin prickled with goosebumps, but her mind stayed cold.
She had faced this kind of harassment beforeādrunken fixers, cocky men at gatherings. Each time, she had taken them down easily. Quick, sharp, efficient.
She could drop him in seconds.
But today, she was Nia Savannah.
If she attacked him here, the police would come. The project would collapse.
Should she scream like an innocent girl? But what if no one came?
Maybe Iāll just knock him out without killing himā¦ yes, that could work.
She readied herself, pulling her right arm tight across her chestā
Thud!
The blonde jerked, collapsing to the floor with a crash.
Sa-hee spun around.
Someone stood over him, pinning the manās head to the ground with one foot.
Her breath caught.
The stranger was as tall as the blonde, but his presence was overwhelming. Even from behind, he radiated power.
He brushed his hair back with one hand and mutteredāin Korean:
āDamn it. I thought I might have to follow you, and of courseāyouāre causing trouble again.ā
